How Is Julie

Breakfast Group @ Tasty N Sons

julie — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:33:38 +0000

Tasty N Sons was named by Willamette Week as the Best Restaurant of the Year after I put it on our list of places to go this year. How smart am I!!! I wouldn’t bother to try to go there on a weekend. Too crowded. But a week day, if you get there by 9 a.m. , when they open, it ought to work out.

Breakfast in Bridgetown group went to Tasty N Sons this month.

The waitress was helpful with the large menu of small and large plates. The place serves the selections like tapas.

The menu is also on line. We ordered two of the same large plates for most of our choices. That way every one of the the eight of us got a sample. But we did overdo the order....

Erin's Sweet Biscuits with warm berry compote had three small biscuits hiding under all the blueberries and whipped cream.

French Toast.

Moroccan Chicken Hash with harissa cream & over easy egg.

Click HERE for the recipe.

Boudin Blanc Omelette with celery root, truffle cheese, white sausage & dijon. I think that is what this was. I never got a taste for some reason.

Burmese Red Pork Stew with short grain rice & eggs two ways

Shakshuka; red pepper & tomato stew, with baked eggs ...add merguez sausage

Not pictured, due to unattractive photo (but delicious taste) were the Glazed Yams with cumin-maple, and the Cast Iron Frittata with butternut squash, swiss chard, caramelized onions & feta because I forgot to photograph it. Everything was wonderful. We were too full to continue our gluttony there or across the street atPix Patisserie.

And the Oscar Goes To….

julie — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:33:36 +0000

We were invited to a fun Oscar Party in Salem co-hosted by John and Dace and Carl and Annie. People arrived as I was glued to the television, so didn’t learn all the names (as if I could remember any), but you might enjoy seeing some of the famous and not-so-famous in attendance. By the way, Robert was Sean Connery and I was his date.

We were greeted at the door by Groucho, aka Carl.

Dace made a lovely Black Swan.

She made sure the scratches were included!!

No one messed with big, bad John, from True Grit.

This was one reason people gave him some respect!

Annie was Liza Minnelli with eyelashes to prove it.

The kitchen island was full of party drinks and star magnolias, which when you think of it makes perfect sense.

We were thrilled when the Queen Mum and King arrived (Judith and Ken Van Osdol).

Debbie and Kiki were trying to figure out how to vote.

Here we have Black Swan, Natalie Portman (Loretta), after her encounter with her ballet instructor.

John M. and Dace were discussing tutus and plies.

Liza is discussing her latest CD, "Confessions", with Debbie and Kiki.

Ann Grim shares what has being going on in her busy life, while Robert enjoys a day off his Atkins diet.

Doesn't the Queen Mum look....well, regal ? I now know where she shops, too. You'd be surprised!

The Key Grip was there because, well, you know what THEY do and there had to be one of those....

Bunco Christmas 2010

julie — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:13:58 +0000

I’m back. It has been months since I have posted. Busy with travel and distracted with my life, but I’ll try to get this updated and post more often.

Twelve out of thirteen were present at Nancy’s lovely home for Christmas Bunco! Talk, drinks, food, presents, then dessert kept us going from 6:30 until I looked at my watch at 10:30 p.m. and realized the drive home to Portland for me would get me there at 11:30. We then poised for pictures and everyone headed home. Wonderful women, conversations and fabulous food made for a memorable evening.

I put my gift under Nancy's huge tree in her living room.

Debbie and hostess Nancy were in the kitchen with the other Bunco Babes.

Peppermint martini. I believe it was one part peppermint Schnapps and two parts vanilla vodka. The sugar rim was made with Grenadine and then rolled in sugar.

Sherri and Kris.

Her gorgeous red chargers helped make a beautiful table.

We all wanted the recipe for the curry chicken soup.

Chicken Curry Soup with Coconut and Lime Bon Appétit | August 1993

by Sue Ellison: Edge Water, Colorado

Here, lime juice replaces the traditional lemongrass, which can be hard to find. The result is a quick, authentic-tasting Thai-style soup. If coconut milk is unavailable, substitute 1 3/4 cups half and half mixed with 3/4 teaspoon imitation coconut extract.

Yield: Serves 4

1 14 1/2-ounce can low-salt chicken broth
1 13 1/2- to 14-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk
1/2 tablespoon curry powder
1 jalapeño chili, seeded, minced
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1/4 cup chopped green onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 cup freshly cooked white rice
Lime wedges

Bring chicken broth, coconut milk, curry powder and chili to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add chicken and simmer until chicken is just cooked through, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Mix in lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.

Transfer soup to bowl. Sprinkle green onion and cilantro over. Spoon rice into each bowl. Ladle soup over. Serve, passing lime wedges separately.

The salad was another hit.

Shrimp Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 lb large cooked shrimp

1 avocado, cubed

1 cup fresh or canned corn

¼ cup cilantro, chopped

2 TBLS chopped red onion

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

½ cup fresh lime juice

¼ cup honey

1 garlic clove, pressed or chopped

1/3 cup olive oil

Combine the shrimp, avocado, corn, cilantro and onion in a large bowl.

Whisk together lime juice, honey, garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil.

Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and gently toss to combine. Cover and chill for at least an hour before serving.

For bunco Nancy quadrupled the recipe….had a lot left over….

Then into the living room where Nancy read fun directions for selecting our gifts to open.

We listened carefully.

Clever Wendy made Deanna's present.

Janet opened up a gift card for a manicure.

I purchased the reindeer that Kris got at Nobal Home in Portland.

Dessert

Christmas group photo to go with other ones from the past. We all had a merry time!

Central City Concern’s Vision Begins

julie — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 23:49:04 +0000

Last winter, the non-profit Central City Concern won nearly nine million federal dollars to turn the corner of Burnside and Broadway, and former Burger King, into a health clinic. We know one of the main people who helped this event come to pass, Dr. Phil Shaprio. So, I attended the event and later his wife, author and playwright, Sharon Whitney, and I went to Park Place for lunch (see next blog entry). Phil will be the medical director of the clinic.

Supporters say the project offers 160 temporary construction jobs, and 11 permanent health-care jobs, when the $19 million clinic facility opens late next year.

Central City Concern anticipates at least 40,000 visits a year from low-income and homeless people.

Cameras were ready, and so was I, to see the ceremonial destruction of the former Burger King.

Local television stations send their crews to cover the event.

Speeches were given.

Everyone got their chance at the microphone. Here Commissioner Nick Fish is at the podium. Congressman David Wu and City Commissioner Amanda Fritz applaud.

Then the action started.

The first dent was made in the old structure to make way for the new.

Root Root Root for the Home Team….

julie — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 05:09:11 +0000

September 6th, we attended the Last Portland Beavers Baseball game. The place was packed. We weren’t in the section where we use to have season tickets because we waited until the last day to get tickets. Still, they were good seats and it was a special time. I got teary during the anthem which was sung better than anyone ever before. Fabulous singer. Got to recall her name. Also, I got misty when they announced the players. Everyone cheered. The place was nearly full and the weather was perfect. I thought I’d be sad during the 7th inning stretch, but I was fine as we all sang Take Me Out To The Ballgame and the place rocked.

This is the day I realized my camera was stolen after I left it at the restaurant at Directors Park right before the game. I think I laid it next to my black backpack and forgot it and someone saw it and took it. I hadn’t downloaded some important events: condo party and my Breakfast group.

As you can see by the clock, the line for tickets started early. The line for the cheaper seats was way worse. We wanted to be closer....

Lots of people enjoyed the day. Many, I am sure, regretted waiting to the last day to attend a game.

Another look.

Hey, Bobby.

Good-bye Beavers. I don't know if I will ever go to a soccer game. Never got into it.

George and Robert Attend Same Church!

julie — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 23:33:13 +0000

Sunday, October 31, I will be attending Christ Church in Alexandria. It was founded before the Revolution. Robert attended there a few weeks ago while he was visiting the kids.

George Washington attended this church.

It looks small, but it has a balcony and can hold a lot of people.

Coffee and cookies outside on the lawn.

Shana has some punch while the kids have some refreshments. Madison dressed herself, can't you tell? Boots and shorts. I think I might have to bring her a dress from Hanna Andersson. But would she wear it, that is the question.....